Bill Text: HI SCR217 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Third Party Agricultural Inspectors; Feasibility Study

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-04-01 - (H) Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 58 [SCR217 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SCR217-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2860

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 217

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 217 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE CONTRACTING OF THIRD PARTY AGENTS TO INSPECT AND CERTIFY HAWAII-GROWN GREEN COFFEE BEANS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request a feasibility study on the contracting of third party agents to inspect and certify Hawaii-grown green coffee beans.

 

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by three organizations and one individual.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by one state agency.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that some rural coffee growers, for example in Kau, were experiencing difficulties related to the affordability and availability of commodity inspectors prior to the recent Department of Agriculture budget cuts.  Some Kau farmers have had to ship coffee beans from Hilo to Kauai for certification, increasing the cost of the coffee approximately one dollar per pound.  Providing local commodity inspectors will help Kau coffee growers compete in the global market.  Your Committee recognizes the Department of Agriculture's concerns regarding not having adequate staff to perform the feasibility study, therefore, your Committee will establish a task force to provide the necessary input and work to complete the study.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by establishing a task force to complete the feasibility study, consisting of:

 

     (1)  Two members designated by the Senate President;

 

     (2)  Two members designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

 

     (3)  One member designated by the Chair of the Board of Agriculture.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 217, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 217, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

		____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair